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There are endless ways to enjoy the spectacular landscape of Yellowstone National Park – stare in awe at the spouting geysers, watch buffalo graze on the prairie, fish in pristine trout streams – and almost as many ways to get there. Spanning 3,400 square miles in three states, Yellowstone is easily accessible from just about any direction. Whether by plane, bus, car or RV, there are numerous ways to arrive at this one-of-a-kind place.

Air Service to Yellowstone

Commercial airlines offer flights to several cities near Yellowstone National Park, including Billings and Bozeman, Montana; Cody and Jackson, Wyoming; and Idaho Falls, Idaho. From any of these cities, it's possible to use a local shuttle service, to join a commercial tour or to rent a car to start exploring the park. A listing of companies that offer tours and shuttle service to the park is found on the official park website.

Bus and Train Transportation

Bus service varies depending on the season, but is available year-round from Bozeman to West Yellowstone, Montana. Buses also travel to the park during the summer months from Cody and Jackson. Check with specific bus carriers for scheduling details. Train service to the park is not available at the time of publication.

Driving to Yellowstone

Driving your own vehicle is the easiest way to get around the park, and the great distances between many attractions found there make it almost a necessity. Yellowstone has five entrance stations, so it's fairly easily accessed from any direction. These entrance stations are, in many cases, hundreds of miles apart, so your point of entry will depend on your direction of travel and which areas within the park you most want to see.

From the West: U.S. Routes 20 and 190 enter the park in West Yellowstone.

From the South: Follow U.S. Route 191 to the south entrance near Jackson.

From the East: U.S. Route 20 enters the park just west of Cody.

From the North: Enter the park in Gardner, Montana, on U.S. Route 89.

From the Northeast: The northeast entrance is on U.S. Route 212 in Cook City, Montana.

Getting Around in the Park

A detailed map is an essential tool for getting around in Yellowstone, so be sure to grab one at the entrance station, or use one of the maps available on the park's website. Many of the park's most well-known features are accessible along a figure-eight shaped network of roads known as the Grand Loop Road, which includes portions of U.S. Routes 89 and 191. Most park roads are open to cars and RVs.

Planning the Trip

Yellowstone is open year-round, but many amenities are not available in winter. Most roads are closed and not maintained between mid-October and mid-May, though exact dates vary year to year and from place to place within the park. In winter, only the north and northeast entrances are open to vehicles.

Summer is the busiest time in the park, with more than 700,000 visiting each month from June to August. Plan on visiting in early June or September for the best chance of beating the crowds without having to deal with road closings.

About the Author

Richard Corrigan has been a full-time freelance writer since 2009, and has always considered himself lucky to be able to combine his passion for travel with his love of writing. His work has appeared online on USA TODAY Travel, LIVESTRONG.com, AZCentral and 10Best.com.

Leaf Group is a USA TODAY content partner providing general travel information. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.